Sec. 20-57. - Ownership designation; color scheme.

Subject to approval of the manager, each franchisee shall adopt a color scheme for painting the franchisee's taxicabs distinct from that of any other operator, and may adopt an identifying design, monogram, or other insignia. All taxicabs of each operation shall be of the same color scheme. Every franchisee operating more than one taxicab in the town shall assign different numbers to each taxicab. The name and telephone number of the taxicab company shall be painted with permanent paint on each side and on the rear of each taxicab with legible letters and numbers not less than three and one-half (3½) inches in height nor more than five (5) inches in height and spaced at least one inch apart.

Colors of paint to be used for lettering and numbering shall be of sharp contrast with color of surface paint to which this is applied, so as to be legible and visible at a reasonable distance, including at night with street lights. No lettering or numbers shall be affixed in any manner which can be removed or detached to conceal the identification of such taxicab company or taxicab number.

No vehicle subject to this chapter shall be authorized to operate if the color scheme, identifying design, monogram, or insignia to be used thereon shall, in the determination of the manager, conflict with, imitate, or substantially resemble any color scheme, identifying design, monogram, or insignia used by another taxicab franchise. If the color scheme, identifying design, monogram, or insignia thereof is changed or altered after the franchise is issued so as to, in the opinion of the manager, conflict with, imitate, or substantially resemble any color scheme, identifying design, monogram, or insignia used by any other operator in such a manner as to be misleading or tend to deceive the public, the vehicle permit covering such taxicab(s) shall be suspended or revoked until the taxicabs are in compliance with this chapter.

No vehicle shall be operated as a taxicab until the same has been painted, numbered, and lettered as required by this section.

(Ord. No. 86-5-12/O-2, § 1)

Sec. 20-58. - Advertising.

Subject to the rules and regulations of the manager, it shall be unlawful for any person operating a taxicab to permit advertising matter to be affixed to or installed in or on any taxicab.

(Ord. No. 86-5-12/O-2, § 1)

Sec. 20-59. - Vehicle equipment.

All taxicabs operated within the town shall be equipped and maintained in a satisfactory condition so as to comply with the North Carolina Safety Inspection Program, and the provisions of this Code. Among other requirements each vehicle shall:

(a)

Have a body of the sedan or enclosed type and shall be of not less than four-passenger capacity.

(b)

Have four (4) doors, two (2) leading into the passengers' compartment and two (2) leading into the driver's compartment, so constructed that they may be opened from the inside and the outside.

(c)

Have all windows, vents, and doors in proper working condition.

(d)

Be equipped with a heater sufficient to heat the interior of the taxicab adequately in cold weather.

(e)

Have all windshields and side and rear glass free from discoloration and without hazardous cracks and clear of dirt or obstructions to clear view.

(f)

Have front and rear bumpers in proper repair.

(g)

Be equipped with a two-way radio in order that the taxicab can have direct communication for immediate dispatching.

(h)

Be equipped with a card frame permanently mounted so as to be visible to patrons for display of the driver's permit, and fare schedule as described in section 20-31

(i)

Be equipped with a number of seat belts equal to the passenger capacity of the vehicle and have such belts readily available for use by passenger. Each vehicle shall also have available for passengers approved child safety seats for use when required by law.

(Ord. No. 86-5-12/O-2, § 1)

Sec. 20-60. - Condition of taxicab.

Every vehicle operating under this chapter shall be kept in a clean and sanitary condition. The franchisee shall keep the body of the taxicab, both interior and exterior, safe and clean and its general appearance shall be kept as close as possible to the manufacturer's original appearance with respect to sheet metal and finish of car, normal wear and tear exempted. Any hazardous exterior body damage shall be repaired prior to returning any vehicle to service.

(Ord. No. 86-5-12/O-2, § 1)

Sec. 20-61. - Maintenance of taxicab.

When any taxicab is wrecked, damaged, or unsafe for taxicab operation, the franchisee shall make such repairs and alterations as may be required and shall not operate, or cause or permit to be operated, any such taxicab until such repairs and alterations have been completed.

(Ord. No. 86-5-12/O-2, § 1)

Sec. 20-62. - Inspection of vehicles required.

Before the use and operation of any taxicab under this chapter, said vehicle shall be thoroughly examined and inspected by the police department and found to be capable of providing safe and sanitary transportation.

In addition, every taxicab shall be inspected semi-annually by the police department to determine that the vehicle is capable of providing safe and sanitary transportation. The police department may also make unannounced inspections at reasonable times to determine that taxicabs conform with this chapter.

Every taxicab shall be required to display at all times a valid North Carolina Safety Inspection sticker.

If, in inspection, an vehicle should be found to be unsafe or not to conform with this chapter, notice shall be given by the police department to the franchisee and such vehicle shall not thereafter be operated as a taxicab until the town determines upon inspection that the vehicle has been placed back into safe condition for operating or into conformity with this chapter. Nothing herein shall be construed to relieve any owner or operator of any vehicle from all or any duties imposed by law nor relieve such owner or operator from liability resulting from the unfitness of such vehicles or the negligent operation thereof.

Failure to present vehicles for an inspection in a timely manner upon reasonable notice by the town shall result in that vehicle not being approved for further services until the inspection is completed and the vehicle approved.

(Ord. No. 86-5-12/O-2, § 1)

Sec. 20-63. - Place of business.

(a)

Franchisees shall maintain a place of business for the purpose of receiving calls and dispatching taxicabs.

(b)

The telephone number of the place of business shall be listed in the local telephone directory in the first available issue and all subsequent issues.

(c)

Any place of business within the town as established by a franchisee must comply with the provisions of the zoning ordinance adopted by the town council.

(Ord. No. 86-5-12/O-2, § 1)

Sec. 20-64. - Driver's manifests.

A daily manifest shall be maintained by the franchisee noting all trips made each day, showing the driver's name, cab number, place of origin and destination of each trip, and the amount of fare.

The forms for such records shall be approved by the town manager.

Every operator shall retain and preserve all driver's manifests in a safe place for at least one hundred and eighty (180) days and the same shall be made available upon demand for inspection by the police department or the town manager. At the request of the town manager, information on the driver's manifest shall be tabulated and forwarded to the manager.

(Ord. No. 86-5-12/O-2, § 1)

Sec. 20-65. - Demeanor of drivers.

Every driver of a taxicab, while on duty, shall be clean in dress and in person at all times.

(Ord. No. 86-5-12/O-2, § 1)

Sec. 20-66. - Refusal to carry orderly passengers.

No driver shall refuse or neglect to carry any orderly person(s) upon request, for reason of race, color, ethnic background, sex, age, religion, handicap, or unless unable or forbidden by provision of this chapter to do so. A driver shall not be required to transport any disorderly, violent, or abusive person.

A blind person accompanied by a guide dog or a deaf person accompanied by a hearing ear dog or any other handicapped person accompanied by a specially trained animal shall not be denied service. A franchise shall permit persons using wheelchairs to use standard taxicab vehicles:

(a)

Independently (without assistance from the driver); or

(b)

With assistance from a companion who is traveling with the person using the wheelchair.

(Ord. No. 86-5-12/O-2, § 1)

Sec. 20-67. - Restriction on number of passengers.

No driver shall permit more persons to be carried in a taxicab than the seating capacity of such vehicle (as rated by the automobile manufacturer), including the driver.

(Ord. No. 86-5-12/O-2, § 1)

Sec. 20-68. - Compliance with passenger's request.

Every taxicab driver shall comply with all reasonable and lawful requests of the passenger or passengers as to the speed of travel and the route to be taken. The driver shall, on the request of any passenger, give to such passenger the correct name of such driver and such other information as will identify the driver, vehicle, and owner thereof.

(Ord. No. 86-5-12/O-2, § 1)

Sec. 20-69. - Lost articles.

The driver of a taxicab shall make every reasonable effort possible to return lost articles that are found in the taxicab to the rightful owner(s) as soon as possible after discovery of such articles. If the owner cannot be located or determined, then the lost article shall be given to the police department within ten (10) days.

(Ord. No. 86-5-12/O-2, § 1)

Sec. 20-70. - Furnishing receipt.

When requested by a passenger, every driver shall give a receipt showing the company's name, driver's name, date, trip, origin, and destination, and the amount of fare charged.

(Ord. No. 86-5-12/O-2, § 1)

Sec. 20-71. - Deception of passengers.

No driver shall deceive or attempt to deceive any passenger who may ride in the taxicab, or who may desire to ride in such taxicab, as to the destination or the rate of fare to be charged, or shall convey any passenger to be conveyed to a place other than directed by the passenger.

(Ord. No. 86-5-12/O-2, § 1)

Sec. 20-72. - Failing or refusing to pay for a taxicab.

Every person requesting a taxicab operator or driver to take him to a designated terminus and who refuses to pay the fares or fares set out in this chapter, or the legitimate charge for carrying baggage, shall be presumed to have fraudulently obtained such services with intent to cheat the operator or driver of just charges and shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

(Ord. No. 86-5-12/O-2, § 1)

Sec. 20-73. - Contracts for ride-sharing, contracts for exclusive service.

Operators of taxicabs who have received franchises to operate within the town may contract with public and/or private agencies to provide shared-ride taxi service. Hours of service, rates, terms, and areas to be served shall be determined by contract between the operator(s) and the agencies.

Taxicab operators and drivers shall not enter into a contract with any place of business within the town for the purpose of or effect of excluding other franchised operators from providing taxicab service to or from such place of business.

(Ord. No. 86-5-12/O-2, § 1)

Sec. 20-74. - Ride-sharing.

A taxicab carrying a passenger or passengers may answer other calls, or pick up additional passengers, prior to taking the first passenger to his or her destination, provided that the first passenger's trip will not, because of the additional passenger, require more than a fifty (50) per cent increase in the time otherwise required if the first passenger's trip were exclusive. A taxicab shall not respond to other calls or pick up additional passengers if the first passenger specifically requests an exclusive ride.

(Ord. No. 86-5-12/O-2, § 1)

Sec. 20-75. - Compliance with town, state, and federal laws.

Every taxicab driver and franchisee shall comply with all relevant town, state, and federal laws and regulations. Failure to do so shall be considered as grounds for suspension or revocation of the driver's permit and/or franchise.

(Ord. No. 86-5-12/O-2, § 1)

Sec. 20-76. - Answering calls for service.

Every taxicab driver and franchisee under this chapter shall respond only to calls directed to such franchisee's telephone number. In no case shall one franchisee answer calls or respond to dispatchers of another franchisee unless permission is granted by such franchisee to answer such calls or respond to such dispatchers.

(Ord. No. 86-5-12/O-2, § 1)

Sec. 20-77. - Schedule of rates.

Taxicab franchisees shall file with the town manager a schedule of maximum rates at least seven (7) days before being effective.

(Ord. No. 86-5-12/O-2, § 1)

Sec. 20-78. - Fare schedule and zone map to be displayed.

In every taxicab covered under a franchise issued by the town, a taxi fare structure cable, a taxi zone map and/or a rate schedule, whether the franchise rates are based upon meter, mileage, or zone system changes, shall be displayed at all times in metal card frames or other durable materials so that rates will be clearly visible to the passenger or passengers using the taxicab. Such fare information should also include the following statements: "This service is franchised for operation by the Town of Chapel Hill. Any complaints regarding service or fares which cannot be resolved by the Taxi Company should be brought to the attention of the Chapel Hill Transportation or Police Departments at 968-2700." The print used on the table shall be of such a size and nature as approved by the town manager.

(Ord. No. 86-5-12/O-2, § 1)

Sec. 20-79. - No application to limousine service.

The provisions of this article shall not apply to the operation of limousines pursuant to a franchise or limousine service issued by the town.

(Ord. No. 86-5-12/O-2, § 1)